Comments and critics

[CRO-Luka]

hey guys, I'm back in training after almost two years. So, C&C needed here, advices would be very appreciated. Please note that I don't usually train in this room, I've moved the bag to my attic because my gym is being redecorated so there's not much place to dance around the bag. Cheers

http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=MVI_0054.flv
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=MVI_0055.flv
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=MVI_0056.flv
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=MVI_0057.flv

I'm uploading some more as we speak

[CRO-Luka]

ok, I'm not getting any feedback, but I've uploaded a few more videos.

http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=MVI_0058.flv
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=MVI_0059.flv
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=MVI_0060.flv
http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=MVI_0061.flv

[Chris Nagel]

Hi Luka for posting these.

I don't have much of a trained eye when it comes to watching someone else's training but I have a few things to say that might be of help.

Although it's pretty cramped up there, you still have some room to move. You can work on tight small circles away from an your imaginary opponent's right hand while working your jab. Now you can imagine that your bag or shadow throws his own jab which you can either pivot to your right and land a hook, or side-step/pivot and land a right hand.

All in all it should be an mentally engaging experience only second to sparring/fighting. Once you have the consistancy of thowing your punches with good technique, you should start going over different situations that you'd face in the ring. You can work on any particular thing that you want but you gotta at least practice it if you want to learn. Think about how you'll have to set up those punches, what kind of counters do you want to work on, etc. When you know how to throw the punches right then move on, don't just stand in one spot throwing punches. Check out greynotsoold's posts in the 'Important / Useful Posts' section, he goes over a lot of useful sequences that you should become familiar with. I've also posted the book that greynotsoold often referred to, it's called 'Boxing' by Edwin L. Haislett and can be free to download in the 'Boxing History and Ringcraft' topic. Write down what you're going to practice if that will help. You can write down what you are going to work on for which round, or which day or however you want to it.

Also think about where you're going to throw your punches. Recently in the last few months I've marked my bag of all the vital spots. The chin, the head, the heart, liver, solar-plexus. There's more than just a head to think of, you should learn to place your punches.

I think someone might call you out on you dropping your left occasionally, personally I'm not a fan of holding the hands up to your cheeks. It'd be better to lower your left hand knowingly and be well prepared for when a right hand is coming your way.

For shadow boxing I wouldn't want to do it in a phone booth, if all possibal I'd like a boxing ring worth of space to allow me to work on footwork, and moving the way that I would in a fight. Now you don't have to do your shadow boxing only at home or the gym, you can practice it in a remote street, outside, maybe even a park. If you're worried about people then just get over it, people are going to see you when you're doing your roadwork, guys at the gym are going to see you train, and when you're in fight everyone's eyes are going to be you. That's just what I think anyways, you need some more space to practice your footwork.

How's your conditioning coming along since you started back up again? By the sound of it you need to slow down the pace up a bit until you can handle going at that intensity. If you're not already you outta take a minute rest in between rounds, and not just to catch a breather but as the time to figure out what you're going to work on next. It's okay to be a little winded but almost gasping for air is a sign that you're not working at the best pace. As your conditioning improves you can gradually increase the intensity that you work at, even pushing yourself at the end the round. As your conditioning improves still you can start adding a round or so to your training.

There's a lot you can do when you're doing roadwork. There's better things to do than going out for a long jog. You can keep up a good pace for about 5k, trying to get your time down to a strong steady pace for each km. Or you can work in intervals alternating walking/jogging, and sprinting. One thing I outta do myself is get a heart rate monitor and adjust my pace according to a target heartrate. This just goes to show you that are a lot of ways to improve the way that you train.

[Sport]

my best advice is mix with as many training partners as u can... in a popular club or something

[CRO-Luka]

hey guys, thank for the feedback.
Chris N.: My conditioning is coming along well, but slowly. For the past few weeks I've been training only 2 or 3 days a week, now I've picked up to 4, 5 days which should boost my stamina. I guess I should've picked up the pace a bit when shadow boxing, it's just that I didn't know if I'll be able keep up the same pace until the end of the training because it was hot as hell in the attic, and my current condition isn't really something to be proud of so...have some understanding
It's true about what you say about thinking about the punches I throw, I was like brainless chicken out there throwing punches. Last night I had a training session on my own again, it wasn't as hot so I managed to box for 10 rounds (2 min. with 1 min. breaks inbetween) without getting winded.
To tell you the truth, I hate road running. I know I know, but my shins become very painful the day after running. I can run only on tarmac, it's the conditions I have over here, and I guess I hadn't used proper running shoes. Instead, I find Orbitrek as a pretty good replacement for both running and cycling. It's just that I haven't started yet Thanks again for the tips

[Trainer Monkey]

Actually as long as your healthy enough to do it,and you keep yourself hydrated,training in the heat is just about the fastest way to condition yourself

[Chris Nagel]

I hear you. About the bag, shadow boxing, etc. like I've said before you want to do things for the right reasons. The things that you work on should add to your sparring experience making it a learning experience as well. You should check out that book sometime, it'll give you enough to work on so that the next time you throw a punch you won't feel a mindless zombie. Besides that whenever there's a fight on TV or even a sparring session at your gym you should watch it intently. Wheather it's good or bad you ought to watch what both the fighters are doing. Recognize their styles, try to find out what either fighter is trying to accomplish, and then little things like how they move, defend themselves, set up their punches, and what kind of mistakes they're making. Ask yourself how you would fight them, and that's the kind of observation/thinking that will come in handy when you have a living, breathing and punching opponent infront of you.

I've been fortunate when it comes to roadwork. I live in a small town in Michigan that offers plent of unbeaten paths to run on. I also have a nice pair of running shoes that takes some of the stress off of my legs. One thing that I learned is that good stretching helps eleviate a lot of the pressure on your feet.

As for your stamina I found a simple exercise that will definately give you a run for the money and will really test your stamina. With a nice sturdy chair you can do step-ups, and as the name implies you'll be doing step ups onto the chair. This can leave you pretty winded if you go at a quick pace. You can incorporate a light weight while you're doing it and work in intervals if you so desire.

Another good exercise for your endurance is burbees. Rossboxing.com has a good burpee routine that is drawn out in their gym section.

By the way what's an Orbitrek?

[Chris Nagel]

Actually as long as your healthy enough to do it,and you keep yourself hydrated,training in the heat is just about the fastest way to condition yourself

Nothing beats training in heat. Thanks for the innuendo Monkey.

I've read a neat article in the Journal of Sports Medicine that researchers have found that training in warm temperatures helps prevent injuries and increases the strength of your muscles. Oxygen deliver to your muscles is also improved. So like you said as long as you stay hydrated you'll get the goodies such as more energy and strength. It's all the more reason to enjoy the heat.

[Trainer Monkey]

Actually as long as your healthy enough to do it,and you keep yourself hydrated,training in the heat is just about the fastest way to condition yourself

Nothing beats training in heat. Thanks for the innuendo Monkey.

I've read a neat article in the Journal of Sports Medicine that researchers have found that training in warm temperatures helps prevent injuries and increases the strength of your muscles. Oxygen deliver to your muscles is also improved. So like you said as long as you stay hydrated you'll get the goodies such as more energy and strength. It's all the more reason to enjoy the heat.

Its in the 90s here,with a high humidity index
After Leslie's last turn on the mitts before she flew out I told her,"If you can do 5 rounds of high intensity mitts in this slop,70 degrees without humidity is gonna be a snap"

[Chris Nagel]

When you think about it, look at the Filipino fighters. They have it made.

[Trainer Monkey]

When you think about it, look at the Filipino fighters. They have it made.

Except they gotta live with that air 24/7

[Chris Nagel]

In a couple of months that's going to be me.

[Trainer Monkey]

In a couple of months that's going to be me.

Right Guard Sport works very well,stock up

[Chris Nagel]

In a couple of months that's going to be me.

Right Guard Sport works very well,stock up

Amen to that bro.

The bad new's is that I'm told that there's no boxing gyms where I'm headed. I'll be taking my boxing gear with me along with an empty heavy bag. By the way I found the perfect heavy bag filler which as it so happens to be in abundant supply over there. Rice Husks-- it's not the first thing that would come to mind when you think about heavy bag filling material. It beats rags, sand and sawdust. The problem with sawdust in high humidity is that it gets real clumpy quite often too. Rice Husks don't have any trouble with the moisture and is quite springy from what hear.

Even though there isn't any boxing gyms nearby I'm told there is plenty of fitness centers/gyms in the area, and I'm thinking where there's people breaking a sweat, there's going someone that would like to box.

[CRO-Luka]

I hear you. About the bag, shadow boxing, etc. like I've said before you want to do things for the right reasons. The things that you work on should add to your sparring experience making it a learning experience as well. You should check out that book sometime, it'll give you enough to work on so that the next time you throw a punch you won't feel a mindless zombie. Besides that whenever there's a fight on TV or even a sparring session at your gym you should watch it intently. Wheather it's good or bad you ought to watch what both the fighters are doing. Recognize their styles, try to find out what either fighter is trying to accomplish, and then little things like how they move, defend themselves, set up their punches, and what kind of mistakes they're making. Ask yourself how you would fight them, and that's the kind of observation/thinking that will come in handy when you have a living, breathing and punching opponent infront of you.

I've been fortunate when it comes to roadwork. I live in a small town in Michigan that offers plent of unbeaten paths to run on. I also have a nice pair of running shoes that takes some of the stress off of my legs. One thing that I learned is that good stretching helps eleviate a lot of the pressure on your feet.

As for your stamina I found a simple exercise that will definately give you a run for the money and will really test your stamina. With a nice sturdy chair you can do step-ups, and as the name implies you'll be doing step ups onto the chair. This can leave you pretty winded if you go at a quick pace. You can incorporate a light weight while you're doing it and work in intervals if you so desire.

Another good exercise for your endurance is burbees. Rossboxing.com has a good burpee routine that is drawn out in their gym section.

By the way what's an Orbitrek?

http://www.telebrandsindia.com/ORBIABSMAIN.jpg
this is orbitrek, my mom actually bought this stuff to stay in shape, i was laughing at this thing the first we brought this inside our house, but from that moment on, I've been using it to stay in shape myself. It doesn't stress my ankles, knees and shins so it does the trick. good stuff it is

as for the burpees, i'll find a room for that. it wouldn't be very pleasant to break my skull on one of those wooden girders

chair doesn't seem too shabby, i'll give it a shot!

ye i really was like a zombie, but as i was off training quite for some time, i didn't want to think about my footwork a lot, it wasn't a fight simulation, i was just trying to get the feel of the punches. i'll make another video in a week or so, with more serious shadow boxing

thanks for your comments guys! cheers